‘Lurker’ Writer/Director Alex Russell on Interplaying Music and Persona Through Debut Thriller
In our conversation with writer/director Alex Russell, he discusses how he felt he transitioned from a writer to a director during post-production, how a random person's feedback during a coloring session influenced a scene's pivotal turning point, and how he initially missed Christopher Nolan's DGA nomination call.
'Hedda' Costume Designer Lindsay Pugh on Piecing Together Fierce Chaos
I chatted with Lindsay Pugh, who broke down the specific design choices for the three main female characters—Hedda, Eileen, and Thea—explaining how their costumes were crafted to reflect their personalities, power dynamics, and psychological states.
'Sinners' Actor and Songwriter Miles Caton on Self-Reflection and Collaboration in Discovering Sammie's Soul
Caton discusses the process of finding Sammie, what it meant to embody the film’s central themes of balancing religious values with the pursuit of the "Black American dream," and his collaborative experience of co-writing with Göransson and Smith.
'The Perfect Neighbor' Filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir on Challenging Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” Rule Through Heavy, Personal Call to Action Doc
Director Geeta Gandbhir and I talked about how the movie challenges Florida's Stand Your Ground" laws, the decision to employ police body camera footage to create a narrative without re-traumatizing the community, and the film's reception in Black communities.
'In Your Dreams' Filmmaker Alex Woo on Embracing Imagination and Life's Challenges Through His Solo Directorial Debut
Woo and I spoke about why this was Kuku's first feature, the film's imaginative yet hyperrealistic aesthetic, and his hopes that viewers—especially families—would learn to embrace life's flaws.
'The Perfect Neighbor' Editor Viridiana Lieberman on Using Body Cam Footage to Create a Community Portrait
Editor Viridiana Lieberman and I discussed her emotional experience working with the film's difficult subject, the process of constructing the narrative from extensive body camera and archival footage, and the specific creative choices made to center the story on the community's perspective.
‘Left-Handed Girl’ Filmmaker Shih-Ching Tsou Discusses Illustrating Taipei Through a Kaleidoscopic Lens
Director Shih-Ching Tsou discusses her experience with her grandfather scolding her for being left-handed as inspiration for the film, the importance of the night market setting in exploring class and family, scouting through Taiwan, and the inspiration behind the film's kaleidoscopic visual style.
'Hedda' Production Designer Cara Brower on Adding Mood, Class, Claustrophobia, and Timelessness to a '50s-set Party
Cara Brower details the creative process behind the film's fresh, non-traditional period look, layering different historical styles like Art Deco and modern art within an 1800s estate, and the subconscious inclusion of animal motifs.
'Arco' Filmmaker Ugo Bienvenu on Crafting Two Contrasting Futures With a Solarpunk Edge
Ugo Bienvenu discusses writing child characters as complex individuals, elaborated on the visual influences for the film's two contrasting future worlds, and his personal experiences living abroad influencing the film's vivid, colorful look.